Six Years. Walk on.

Six Years. Walk on. (Day 50)

by Rey Laguda

(This is the 50th day of 50-day journey of DepEd Undersecretary Rey Laguda as being serialized here with his permission, culled from his Facebook account - Blogger/owner)

I made it to my 50th post. I completed a full term – six years. I come to an end. There is so much to be told. There is so much to be done. I hope that my posts have given you at least one reason to believe and hope in government. The work that we have done and will continue to do goes beyond us as individuals. This is about the work of an entire nation.

We often talk about the primary role of government in taking care of its people. But this is not a complete story of development. I keep telling myself and others that a nation cannot also progress when its people is unable to take pride in its government. The symbiotic relationship must flourish.

I am proud to have worked in the Department of Education and I embrace our strengths and weaknesses, our successes and failures. Politics has no place in education and I long to see the day when voters reflect that reality through their votes and through their vigilance afterwards.

Writing posts for the last 50 days is similar to my experience of working in DepEd for six years. I didn't know if I would last but I trusted the process. There were times when I was running short and empty, but people came forward to help me. As work continued, it was important to always look back and take stock of what was being done to keep me on track. Though I gave so much, I feel that I received more than what I gave.

To our President, Benigno S. Aquino III, you served us faithfully no matter what people say. Your full and unwavering support to DepEd is manifested in your support for our budget, in pushing us beyond our limits, in your trust and faith in Br. Armin.

To those who wished us failure, may your tribe disappear. To those who engaged us in dialogue with no intent of finding solutions, may you be washed away by the rains of change. To those who choose to be in the arena and face the challenges armed with love, commitment and faith, this song is for you:

Walk On
U2

And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
And love is not the easy thing
The only baggage you can bring
Is all that you can't leave behind
And if the darkness is to keep us apart
And if the daylight feels like it's a long way off
And if your glass heart should crack
And for a second you turn back
Oh no, be strong
Walk on, walk on
What you got they can't steal it
No they can't even feel it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight
You're packing a suitcase for a place none of us has been
A place that has to be believed to be seen
You could have flown away
A singing bird in an open cage
Who will only fly, only fly for freedom
Walk on, walk on
What you've got they can't deny it
Can't sell it, can't buy it
Walk on, walk on
Stay safe tonight
And I know it aches
And your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on
Home, hard to know what it is if you've never had one
Home, I can't say where it is but I know I'm going home
That's where the hurt is
I know it aches
How your heart it breaks
And you can only take so much
Walk on, walk on
Leave it behind
You've got to leave it behind
All that you fashion
All that you make
All that you build
All that you break
All that you measure
All that you steal
All this you can leave behind
Walk on.

(watch the music video on http://youtu.be/JWqpPTZWDL0)

Finally, thank you so much to all the people that supported us and believed that the elephant could dance tinikling. Dance we did.

‪#‎DepEd50Days‬ ‪#‎DropTheMic‬

source: https://www.facebook.com/reylags/posts/10153539792847307

Thank you, Sir Laguda for the invaluable service you have given us in your stint as USec in the DepEd for the faithful year of six. Madamu gid nga salamat.